Girls' Night Out (Bad Boys) Read Online Free PDF

about school and how her life back in L.A. didn’t match the here and now. Not in how her advisor relied upon her and treated her as an individual. But suddenly her chest constricted, and she wondered if she could go back to school with this news. She swallowed, thinking of all of her plans and those Dr. Peterson was making. Gosh, her advisor needed someone to help, but her mother came first.
     
    ~~~       
    Coming into the entry hall, Cory removed her sunglasses and tucked then inside her purse. She called out evenly, forcing more than enough air into her lungs to keep her voice from cracking, “Mama? Where are you?”
    At the side of the open fireplace, movement from a winged chair placed closest to the crackling fire caught her eye. Brightly colored red yarn and knitting needles were thrust onto a small table.
    “Oh Cory, come here! My baby girl is home. Let me look at your!” Her mother leaned forward and opened up her arms. She looked thinner and there were unfamiliar circles under her eyes. Cory’s chest tightened, but she smiled bravely.
    Her eyes welled and she blinked away the sting of tears. “Finally. Here I am.”
    Her mother stood and laughed. “Let me get the camera.”
    “First a hug,” Cory murmured. She glided forward, into the pale yellow living room done with blue furniture and accents, toward her mother. The room featured an expansive open beamed ceiling, brightly lit by the back wall of wide windows and French doors leading to the rear of the house and a full patio surrounding their pool. She walked over the antique silk area rug where she’d played as a toddler, the ocean colors muted by the years of foot traffic.
    Mama enfolded her into a warm, lilac-scented embrace. Cory squeezed her mother, tight, and held on for what seemed like minutes. The vibration of her mother’s soft laugh skipped through her and she found herself coming undone, tears falling down her cheeks.
    “Land sakes. Your daddy spilled the beans. Didn’t he?”
    “Yes, ma’am,” Cory whispered and wiped the skin under her eyes.
    “There’s nothing to worry about. Cory, don’t you fret. I’m as solid as the floor underneath our feet.”
    For all her adult life, Mama had lived in this house. Built and owned by her grandparents, it was given to her parents as a wedding gift. Mama was not originally from Annona—a Dallas girl by birth. She’d ventured into Annona during a vacation to visit friends, met Daddy, and never left. Never returned to college at A&M. Eloped and settled here at Evermore, pregnant with Matthew within a year.
    Cory was born twelve years later. At the age of twenty-one her parents had finally agreed to her going off to college. A late bloomer by virtue of having her wings regularly clipped by her folks. They had promised if she lived to see the age of majority, she’d get their blessing to go off to school. Well, she had and they had. Only now, she had returned and things weren’t working out as planned.
    “Corinth McLemore,” a soft voice sounded.
    “Louisa, can you believe it?” Mama said, smiling.
    Miss Louisa came over and, of course, Cory tumbled into the only other set of arms she’d known as welcoming as her mother’s.
    “Ma’am,” Cory whispered, willing herself to stop the waterworks. These were two of the strongest women in Texas, and to be the bawl baby after having fought for her freedom would not do. She inhaled and set a smile on her face before releasing her hold on Miss Louisa. “Smells awfully good, whatever you’re making.”
    “You can’t tell me you don’t recognize the scent of apple pies baking?”
    “I’m only joking. Sure I do. It’s been a while since your last batch of baked good got eaten up from that care package you sent.”
    The front door shut with a short slam and the thud of feet trampling down the entryway. Darn, she needed to get her act together. Her family would be arriving. Coming in throngs. But Jesus, that would only tire Mama out.